Investigation underway into sickness outbreak at sports centre

Public Health England is investigating the National Water Sports Centre after more than 20 visitors have become ill

A sports centre in Nottingham is being investigated by Public Health England (PHE) after reports of people who took part in an obstacle race at the facility are suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea.

On 09 July, 3,000 people took part in the X-Runner mud run at the National Water Sports Centre, which involved competitors swimming in open water. Since the event, approximately 25 participants have reported suffering symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches, back pain, fever and aching limbs.

As part of its investigation, PHE is encouraging anyone who participated in the mud run and is experiencing symptoms to complete a survey by Sunday 24 July to help identify the cause of the illnesses.

X-Runner and the trust that runs the centre is working with PHE to find the cause of the sicknesses.

In 2015, Thompsons Solicitors secured compensation for 66 members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) who had similar symptoms after taking part in training exercises at the site during 2008 and 2012, after it was proved that the centre posed a risk to public health.

Gerard Stilliard, head of personal injury strategy at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “Incredibly, less than a year after we successfully secured damages for FBU members who became ill at this facility, the problem appears to not have been resolved.

“While those who have suffered symptoms after taking part in the X-Runner challenge at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham should give us a call about claiming compensation, we won’t need to reinvent the wheel - we’ve been in this situation before with our firefighter clients, and will do all we can to get compensation for you too.

“The facility really needs to stop playing around, accept responsibility and identify once and for all the cause of the illnesses, so that more members of the public are not put at risk.”

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